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Tag: Diabetes

  • Diabetes

    The term diabetes, when not specified, refers to Diabetes mellitus, a serious metabolic disorder characterized by defects in the body’s use of carbohydrates. The other kind of diabetes is Diabetes insipidus, which is quite a different and relatively rare condition, in which an individual passes large quantities of pale, dilute urine, with consequent dehydration and excessive thirst.

    Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome in which the basic defect is the absence or shortage of the hormone called insulin. This hormone is carried by the blood to the kidneys, where it limits the outflow of water in the urine.

    The great majority cases of Diabetes insipidus are due to a tumour or inflammation in the region of the pituitary gland, thereby suppressing ADH production. Physical damage in form of fracture of the base of the skull or surgery in the pituitary area can also cause Diabetes insipidus. In addition, there is a rare inherited form of Diabetes insipidus where the production of Anti-Diuretic Hormone is normal, but the kidneys do not respond to the circulating hormone.

    As earlier stated, in Diabetes mellitus, an organ in the body (called the pancreas) is found not to be functioning properly. Insulin is a hormone produced by the Beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Insulin is carried by the blood to all parts of the body. The body’s cells use glucose (blood sugar) as their fuel. They have receptors to which insulin becomes attached. This binding of insulin enables the cells to use glucose by converting it into energy or storing it as fat. Any defect in this process, either in the pancreas, where insulin is being produced, or at the sites of attachment of insulin to the cells, would interfere with the body’s use of fuel to produce energy.

    Apart from the malfunctioning of the Pancreas, one other cause of this disorder is unbalanced diet. Most of us consume denatured food in one way or the other. Also, food additives and unhealthy drinks, whether soft drinks, teas, coffee or liquor may predispose one to metabolic imbalance.

    The symptoms of diabetes include: frequent urination, loss of flesh, inordinate appetite, constant hunger, mental depression, progressive weakness, great thirst, dry tongue and impaired vision. The person could be irritable, restless and morose. The loss of energy is due to the loss of sugar, which is needed to generate the energy for daily activities.

    In Holistic Lifecare, it is strongly advised that imported styles of living (i.e. cooking, eating & drinking) must be looked into especially on the use of food additives and colourants in fast foods and so-called take-away. Heavy starchy foods should be cut down drastically, if they cannot be avoided, pending total recovery from the ailment.

    As we make efforts to repair a malfunctioning pancreas, there are some fruits and vegetables known to be helpful. These include carrots, paw-paw, cucumber, onions, garlic and lettuce, combined with soya-milk mixed with guinea-corn pap or porridge.

    Control: The Holistic remedy that has been popularly suggested for the control of Diabetes is a combination of the natural extracts of some herbs scientifically called Anchomanes difformis, Pergularia daemia, Vinca rosea and Viscum album.

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call  on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

  • Varsity hosts diabetes summit

    The government of Osun State has reiterated its commitment to quality health care delivery for residents. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Temitope Ilori, gave the re-assurance at the 2014 Strategies for Improving Diabetes Care in Nigeria (SIDCAIN) Summit with the theme: “Joint action against gestational diabetes mellitus”.

    The event was held at the auditorium of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in Osogbo.

    Ilori said diabetes affected mostly women and children, leading to an increased mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa.

    She said the government had taken measures to address the problem by partnering with stakeholders in the health sector and embarking on a number of programmes to alleviate the problem of diabetes in the state.

    Ilori said government was ready to collaborate with health care practitioners to improve the living conditions of the citizens.

    In his address titled: “Effective care for persons with gestational diabetes mellitus: why, what, how?” Dr Ade Kolawole  of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital said the purpose of the summit was to fashion out strategies for managing gestational diabetes.

    He explained that gestational diabetes was the carbohydrate interference of variable severity first recognised during pregnancy, adding hat diabetes was a disease prevalent in city life.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof A.B. Okesina, urged participants to cultivate healthy habits in relation to the food they eat and exercise regularly.

  • ‘Diabetes can be managed with herbal plants’

    Do you know that diabetes can be managed with natural herbs?
    A herbalist, Taiwo Lawal, said diabetes can be managed with herbal plants.
    According to him, nature has answer to every ailment, therefore, people should avail themselves of the healing properties of herbal plants. He encouraged practitioners to also carry out further research into herbs, plants, roots, spices and other healing ingredients for the betterment of mankind.
    Lawal said high blood sugar can be reversed by taking potent herbal remedies.
    “There are leaves, bark of trees and roots that can ensure healing when taken in the right proportion,” he said.
    The traditional medicine practitioner said tests are carried out to determine the severity of the disease before treatment is initiated.
    Lawal said before he initiates treatment, he usually asked patients to go for diagnostic tests in the orthodox laboratories to know the extent of the disease, “to make them see that there is an answer in natural medicine. I also ask them to have a test carried out after treatment.
    “The patients are always surprised at the end results. Our government should make more fund available for traditional medicine, that would help the practice.”
    On diabetes, the herbalist said treatment takes between one and two months, depending on the severity of the condition of the diabetic.
    He said tree roots, certain barks and some dried leaves found in the remote villages are used in preparing the concoction for managing diabetes.
    “They are produced in very hygienic condition, so the sick person should not be afraid to drink the preparation,” he stated.
    He said he attends to no fewer than 50 diabetic cases monthly, adding that people usually come back to share their healing experience.

  • Diabetes

    The term diabetes, when not specified, refers to Diabetes mellitus, a serious metabolic disorder characterized by defects in the body’s use of carbohydrates. The other kind of diabetes is Diabetes insipidus, which is quite a different and relatively rare condition, in which an individual passes large quantities of pale, dilute urine, with consequent dehydration and excessive thirst.

    Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome in which the basic defect is the absence or shortage of the hormone called insulin. This hormone is carried by the blood to the kidneys, where it limits the outflow of water in the urine.

    The great majority cases of Diabetes insipidus are due to a tumour or inflammation in the region of the pituitary gland, thereby suppressing ADH production. Physical damage in form of fracture of the base of the skull or surgery in the pituitary area can also cause Diabetes insipidus. In addition, there is a rare inherited form of Diabetes insipidus where the production of Anti-Diuretic Hormone is normal, but the kidneys do not respond to the circulating hormone.

    As earlier stated, in Diabetes mellitus, an organ in the body (called the pancreas) is found not to be functioning properly. Insulin is a hormone produced by the Beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Insulin is carried by the blood to all parts of the body. The body’s cells use glucose (blood sugar) as their fuel. They have receptors to which insulin becomes attached. This binding of insulin enables the cells to use glucose by converting it into energy or storing it as fat. Any defect in this process, either in the pancreas, where insulin is being produced, or at the sites of attachment of insulin to the cells, would interfere with the body’s use of fuel to produce energy.

    Apart from the malfunctioning of the Pancreas, one other cause of this disorder is unbalanced diet. Most of us consume denatured food in one way or the other. Also, food additives and unhealthy drinks, whether soft drinks, teas, coffee or liquor may predispose one to metabolic imbalance.

    The symptoms of diabetes include: frequent urination, loss of flesh, inordinate appetite, constant hunger, mental depression, progressive weakness, great thirst, dry tongue and impaired vision. The person could be irritable, restless and morose. The loss of energy is due to the loss of sugar, which is needed to generate the energy for daily activities.

    In Holistic Lifecare, it is strongly advised that imported styles of living (i.e. cooking, eating & drinking) must be looked into especially on the use of food additives and colourants in fast foods and so-called take-away. Heavy starchy foods should be cut down drastically, if they cannot be avoided, pending total recovery from the ailment.

    As we make efforts to repair a malfunctioning pancreas, there are some fruits and vegetables known to be helpful. These include carrots, paw-paw, cucumber, onions, garlic and lettuce, combined with soya-milk mixed with guinea-corn pap or porridge.

    Control: The Holistic remedy that has been popularly suggested for the control of Diabetes is a combination of the natural extracts of some herbs scientifically called Anchomanes difformis, Pergularia daemia, Vinca rosea and Viscum album.

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

  • ‘Diabetes cases on the increase’

    ‘Diabetes cases on the increase’

    Diabetes can get complicated if not managed on time. WALE ADEPOJU writes.

    Not many people are aware of the danger diabetes pose to their lives. People die ignorantly from a seemingly preventable ailment.

    A Consultant endocrinologist, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), Dr Ifedayo Odeniyi has said.

    Dr Odeniyi said while some undergo checks to prevent diabetes; others are ignorant of its fatality just as a 70- year old retiree, Mr Kola Samson, who lost his sight to the ailment over 10 years ago.

    The man thought it was glaucoma that was responsible for his loss of sight, but unknown to him it was diabetes.

    The cause was made known to him at a primary health care centre in Lagos, when he went to see a doctor, after urinating uncontrollably.

    His family members said he had been experiencing that for about three months before he finally agreed to see the doctor.

    At the hospital, he was told to do blood sugar test. The result was terrifying. His blood sugar was about 300, blood pressure (BP) over 200 and pulse, 145.

    He commenced treatment immediately. To drain his urine, the doctor inserted catheter into him. He received treatment for two weeks before it was removed and his blood sugar crashed down to about 145 and BP 135/80.

    He was discharged with strict advice that he should take his drugs religiously. But he deviated from using his drugs regularly and the blood sugar rose up to 175. This made him to take excessive glucophage, a diabetes drug, which brought the blood sugar down beyond required level, resulting in hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemic is low blood sugar.

    Mr Samson started to shiver and almost died from the condition, but for the timely intervention of family members, who contacted the doctor. He became a diabetic.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) said diabetes would be the seventh leading cause of death in 2030.

    It said an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar.

    WHO said 347 million people worldwide have diabetes, adding: “Healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.”

    Dr Odeniyi said diabetes is a non-communicable disease.

    He said it is a problem of the body not being able to use the glucose it produces very well.

    The body, he added, breaks down food into glucose to generate energy and function properly.

    The body, he said, requires insulin to be able to use glucose. “In people with diabetes, it is either they don’t have insulin at all, which is what we have in people with Type 1 diabetes. This also occurs commonly in little children. They usually need insulin to survive.

    “The most common diabetes is the Type 2. In this group of people, they produce insulin but not inadequate quantity. Even the little they produce doesn’t work very well as the body doesn’t recognise it. This known as insulin resistant diabetes, whichever way the body cannot make use of glucose. It remains in the blood and very high,” the endocrinologist said.

    The problem, he said, is not in the food consumed but the inability of the body to produce insulin to utilise the glucose which comes from the food eaten.

    He identified factors such as sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and obesity as precursor to rising cases of the ailment. “It can also be inherited. An offspring of parents, either mother and father or one of them who has it, may be susceptible to diabetes,” he added.

    He said some people inadvertently develop the condition by using drugs such as steroids if they are on it for a long time.

    Odeniyi said some have gestational diabetes, which is the type diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. This, he said, has its attendant risks if not properly diagnosed and treated on the mother.

    He said the projection by the International Diabetes Association (IDA) was that by 2025 about 266 million people would have diabetes if nothing was done.

    “But by 2010, we have reached that target; the new target is by 2030 about 556 million people will come down with diabetes worldwide. Africa and other developing countries are inclusive,” he said.

    He warned against sedentary lifestyle and consumption of excessive calories which may be hard to burn.

    “When people are fat insulin will not work very well and it could result in diabetes,” he said.

    He said LUTH receives over 30 referrals and about 100 diabetics on follow up weekly.

    He said most times the patients come late, adding that some do this because they ignored while others do so on their volition.

    The endocrinologist said the disease is not cheap to manage because it is a lifelong disease. “It doesn’t have a cure. What we do is to manage the glucose and bring it to the acceptable level as much as possible,” he added.

    Hypoglycemia, he said is a complication of diabetes that result in treatment, stressing that it killed very fast, even than high blood sugar.

    He said diabetics presented by passing out a lot of urine, drinking excessive water and weight loss despite eating very well. Their urine attracts ants because is very sweet,” he added.

    He said sometimes, they might not appear that way, stressing that it might be that an optician, who is the eye doctor, which would discover the ailment. “When they are tested and their glucose level is very high, they are then referred to us. They may have different grades of visual impairment. They vision can become blurry or hazy. Most times the patient must have tried all eye drops in the market to no avail. It is when they don’t get improvement that they come to the eye doctor, who checks their glucose level,” he said.

  • Diabetes

    Diabetes

    Why it is called ‘silent killer’

    How to manage it

    DRESSED in a purple mix ankara gown, Felicia Akinrinmade lay forlornly on the narrow hospital bed that morning. She looked lean and pale, which is not surprising considering the ailment she has been battling with for years and which led to her admission in the hospital in the first place. The 33-year-old housewife is a diabetic patient on admission at the Ajeromi General Hospital, Lagos. She was first diagnosed with the ailment about 10 years ago when she was 23. “It was during my first pregnancy when I was 23 that I got to know about my condition,” she told The Nation. Unfortunately, she lost that first baby due to the disease. “My first born died because of the disease. Even the second one I had is affected by diabetes,” she stated sadly.

    The disease, she lamented, has become a serious problem to her because of the cost of managing it. “It’s expensive to manage,” she noted.

    Popular musician and crooner, Stella Monye, is another person living with diabetes. The artiste, who shot to fame with her hit tune, Oko mi ye, some years back, first learnt of her condition after two fainting fits or coma caused by the disease. The first incident took place while shopping at the popular Balogun market on Lagos Island. She disclosed in a chat: “I did not just wake up one day and found out that I had diabetes. It was gradual. Twice, I went into coma in a public place. My first experience was at Balogun market in Central Business District area of Lagos Island. It actually happened while I was shopping there. While my second experience was at the Muritala Mohamed International Airport on my way out of the country. In both cases, I just blacked out and did not come round for several hours. It was a taste of death so to say. But even after those two attacks, ironically, I had no knowledge that I had become a diabetic. So, I did not understand why I had gone into coma.”

    The Samba Queen as she is also popularly known from her kind of music, became alarmed at her health condition and decided to seek help. Upon approaching medical experts, she was diagnosed as a diabetic. It took her sometime to digest the meaning and the implications. “Initially I was not scared. But the doctors explained the implications and informed me that if not well managed, it could kill very fast. So that scared me!” she said.

    “I suddenly realised that I had a difficult health condition to battle. Confirmation in my case also meant that treatment must be embarked upon. So I summoned courage and strictly embarked on the medication prescribed to me by my doctor. I also adhered to the foods prescribed as part of the crisis management approach, a point which I had already got to, which is quite expensive when you consider the cost of the drugs and all other things put together.”

    In terms of number, diabetes is the fastest growing long-term disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Figures from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) indicate that over 371 million people have diabetes and half do not know they have it. The world’s most populous country, China, tops the list of 10 countries with the highest number of people; 92.3 million between the ages of 20 and 79 years are said to be suffering from the diseases.

    Statistics for Nigeria are equally frightening. IDF 2012 figures show that over three million Nigerians between the ages of 20 and 79 years have diabetes, while 2.5 million Nigerians living with the condition are unaware and undiagnosed. It also showed that the country lost 88,681 persons in 2012 due to diabetes-related illnesses and has a 4.83 per cent comparative prevalence, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.

    These figures indicate that Nigeria led other African countries in diabetes, closely followed by South Africa with 1.9 million people having the disease.

    So, what is it about this disease that is afflicting so many, causing deaths and disabilities everywhere?

     

    The silent killer

    Diabetes is a condition in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar) either because insulin production is inadequate or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin or both. Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience polyuria (frequent urination), become increasingly thirsty (polydipsia) and hungry (polyphagia). If you have diabetes, no matter what type, it means you have too much glucose in your blood, although the reasons may differ.

    Glucose is vital to the health because it’s an important source of energy for the cells that make up the muscles and tissues. It’s also the brain’s main source of fuel. But too much glucose can lead to serious health problems. What makes diabetes such a serious ailment is that it can go undiagnosed for years, with many sufferers living with it without being aware they have it. This is the reason it’s often called the ‘silent killer.’

    “Diabetes is the elevation of sugar in the blood as a result of insufficient insulin or insulin deficiency,” said a medical practitioner, Dr Saheed Ogunmola. He noted that the disease is caused by excess intake of fine sugar. “It is not when someone takes sugar the first time but sugar that is stored in the body and is not digested.”

    “Also diabetes has two types : Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is hereditary, genetic and is common among mothers and children, that is children inherit it from the mother. Type 2 is common among the middle aged people and the elderly,” he said.

    “In type 1, the body does not produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes or early-onset diabetes. People usually develop type 1 diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years.” Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type 1. Patients with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. They must also ensure proper blood-glucose levels by carrying out regular blood tests and following a special diet,” Ogunmola added.

    In Type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function or the cells in the body do not react to insulin (insulin resistance). “Type 2 is common among the middle age,” he stated, noting that 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this type.

    On the ailment, Dr Godwin M. Inwang, Senior Medical Officer of St. Luke’s General Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, stated: “Diabetes is a disease which results from the poor management of glucose in the body. Diabetes could be divided into two; the first is Diabetes Insipidus, which is directly the poor management of sugar in the body. Diabetes Malytus manifests in different forms, basically the problem of poor sugar management in the body, caused by either the lack of insulin or the non-sensitivity of the body cells to insulin.”

    He stated that Insulin is a hormone secreted in the pancreas in the abdomen, which sensitises the cells to admit sugar and pass on to the body. “Basically, all the foods that we eat turn into some form of sugar that can be used by the body. And that primarily is glucose. When there is no sugar in the body, it starts breaking down protein and eventually turns it into sugar for the body. For instance during starvation, when the body does not get sugar from foods, it starts breaking down the fat cells to turn into sugar. These are called ketones. They are burned to produce energy for the body.”

    Describing the body as a big chemical laboratory that does all sorts of things, he added: “It is similar to a factory. When there is a lack of insulin, then you can say someone has insulin-dependent diabetes, which is Type 1. When it is as a result of the cells not recognising the presence of insulin, it is called Type 2. The second one could also be caused by the fact that a body has so much insulin but the insulin is not functioning the way it should be functioning. This could be as a result of obesity. Maybe the person is so big, has so much single unit substances and too much fat. Type 1 diabetes basically affects children and younger people. However, it can also be found among older people, while Type 2 affects more of the older people.

    On how she manages the sickness that has no discernible cure, Stella Monye, the music star, admitted that she endeavours to manage it as best as she can. Said she: “Though, it hasn’t been easy because already my heart has been affected. That is what diabetes does. Most often, it affects your heart first and goes on to attack your kidneys.”

    In the past, diabetes was associated mostly with the elderly and middle aged persons. Now, the young too, including children, are affected. Fourteen-year-old school girl, Sandra Ogochukwu, is one of such children whose lives have been blighted by the incurable disease. She was first diagnosed for Type 1 diabetes at 11 in 2010. She has been on medication since then which includes regular shots of insulin as she has insulin-dependent diabetes. She also has to stay away from sugar and sugary foods. On this, her mother, Madam Janet, stated: “It’s tough keeping her away from sugar as she has a sweet tooth. We can monitor her when she’s at home but at school, nobody is there to keep an eye on her so she can stay away from soft drinks and other sugary treats like biscuits and cakes she likes so much. I keep praying that she listens to my pleadings and those of the doctor to avoid such things as it could worsen her health.”

    On why the disease affects children and other young people, Dr Inwang said: “It’s the same reason- lack of insulin. Maybe the child has a disease that affects the pancreas, which affects the cells that produce the insulin, or not just able to produce insulin, or has been taking things that require so much use of insulin that the body burnt out its reserves. For instance, somebody who has had a steady long habit of drinking too much of sugar and non-sugar sweetened things is likely to have it. It is even worse with people who are used to taking non-sugar sweetened things. Because if you take sugar, the brain is sensitive enough to sort it out and decide what quantity the body needs and communicate such message to the necessary cells.

    “But in the case of non-sugar sweetened substances, the brain cannot decode it. And that causes a lot of chaos in the body. You know, people say ‘do not take sugar but take sugar substitute,’ I tell you it is worse because some of those non-sugar substances contain dangerous compounds. That is because if insulin comes around and does not see sugar, after the sweet taste has attracted it, it causes a whole lot of complexities for the body such as hunger, excessive eating as a result of over stimulation. It is a complex thing because there are so many hormones in the body dealing with insulin.

    In Type 2 diabetes, the body has excess insulin, but the insulin is not effective for the body. “Everybody can be affected,” said Ogunmola. “Even children are not left out. It’s because the intake of sugar by this set of people is much, which can lead to diabetes,” he explained.

     

    A lifelong ailment

    Since diabetes has no cure, those who have it have to learn to live with and manage it well to avoid complications. Experts warn that if not well managed, it can cause death. “Diabetes is deadly, very deadly,” affirmed Inwang. He added: “Diabetes is deadly because it is associated with various types of complications. One of such complications is that it can lead to sudden death. In the younger people, there is so much insulin in the body which is not used and eventually it leads to coma. If the person is not treated immediately, the person can die. Even if you treat immediately, if you are not careful, you will still lose the person to death.”

    “There is so much that too much sugar in the body does. It draws water away from the cells and makes the cells flabby, makes the person dehydrated; increases acid in the body, and then it affects the heart, liver, practically every other organ of the body. Diabetes is very dangerous.”

    “Diabetes is usually managed and cannot be treated,” Ogunmola noted, stating that the patient ‘lives with it till death.’

    On the symptoms, Inwang said: “Early symptoms could show in one being thirsty too often. Not just the love of water but being really thirsty too often. Also, when one complains of thirst too much and passes lots of urine too often. This could be because there is a lot of sugar in the body but it is not entering the cells. It is when sugar enters the cells that the body is satisfied because the cells have something to use, which produces energy. But if sugar does not go to the cells, the person remains hungry and thirsty. Though he will continue to eat! Other symptoms are weakness of the body and obesity.”

    “From my experience, the symptoms come in different forms,” stated Monye. “In some cases, it makes one vomit from time to time; sometimes it puts you in a sort of temporary coma, and you can also be dizzy and weak. At such times, the digestive system does not function well.”

     

    Managing diabetes

    To manage the ailment, experts advocate proper medication as well as a healthy lifestyle. “If you indulge in taking a lot of sugar, you will burn out your pancreas,” Inwang warned. “You have to eat rationally and sensibly. Most recommended diet in order to avoid diabetes is to eat farm-fresh foods. Avoid processed foods and you will improve your chances of getting healthy nutrition,” he advised. He also advised people to avoid living an excessive lifestyle, stating: “What you eat or drink contributes a lot to getting diabetes or not. Do not live an excessive life. Do not take unhealthy drinks and avoid sugar and non-sugar sweetened foods.”

    He noted that patients may be able to control their Type 2 diabetes symptoms by losing weight, following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise, and monitoring their blood glucose levels. “However, Type 2 diabetes is typically a progressive disease – it gradually gets worse – and the patient will probably end up having to take insulin, usually in tablet form.”

    Having lived successfully with diabetes for quite a while, Monye has some tips for people who may be diabetic or just discovered that they are. “It has a lot to do with the foods that we eat. I would say that such people should eat and drink right. Eating and drinking right is very important! They should also drink a lot of water. Being diabetic also means that you have to find out about the illness. You have to learn to do research about what diabetes is all about and how you can cope. There are newer discoveries from time to time and a diabetic is better placed if you keep in touch with growing knowledge. You could search for such knowledge on the internet. They should search on the Net for the right things to eat to avoid diabetes.”

    Apart from the genetic factor, experts point out that some people are at risk of diabetes due to their weight and lifestyle choices. For instance, overweight and obese people have a much higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to those with a healthy body weight. People with a lot of visceral fat, also known as central obesity, belly fat or abdominal obesity, are especially at risk.

    Being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods all contribute to the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, they warn. Drinking just one can of (non-diet) soda per day can raise the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 22%, researchers from Imperial College London reported in the journal Diabetologia. The scientists believe that the impact of sugary soft drinks on diabetes risk may be a direct one rather than simply an influence on body weight.

    If badly controlled, complications can arise with diabetes. Some of these, according to Ogunmola, include male infertility, low ejaculation, Erectile dysfunction (male impotence), obesity, eye complications such as glaucoma and cataracts, foot complications (neuropathy, ulcers and sometimes gangrene, which may require that the foot be amputated) and skin disorders.

    Others are heart problems, hypertension (common in people with diabetes, which can raise the risk of kidney disease, eye problems, heart attack and stroke), mental health (uncontrolled diabetes raises the risk of suffering from depression, anxiety and some other mental disorders), hearing loss, gum disease, healing of wounds (cuts and lesions take much longer to heal in diabetics), among others

  • My lifestyle gave me diabetes

    My lifestyle gave me diabetes

    My lifestyle gave me diabetes

    NIGERIAN celebrated songster, Stella Monye, is a diabetic and that to her, is not the end of the world. Mid last year, just a few days before the Oko mi ye crooner was scheduled to host her much talked about 30th year anniversary celebration in the entertainment industry, she had an attack while on the way to see one of her sponsors.

    Luckily for her, she had lived with diabetes for some time, so she knew what next to do. She drove to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital with her Music manager and publicist in tow.

    Upon arrival at the hospital, the nurses already saw the signs and Stella was immediately wheeled into a ward and urgently attended to. One of the nurses was later to alarmingly tell her, “that was close!”

    That was a hard truth to swallow. Stella had because of the up coming event over-worked herself, completely forgetting that as a diabetic, she ought to live by the rules of attentiveness to her daily health condition. She was in hospital for some days and almost missed the mega celebration which turned out to be one of the best musical shows in year 2013.

    Living as a diabetic may medically not be fun, but it is, according to medical practitioners, a life worthy of holding onto. But from Stella Monye’s experience, what is life like being a diabetic?

    “As far as I am concerned,” said the songster, “diabetes to my understanding is when you have high blood sugar in your body system. It attacks people in different forms. Unfortunately, some people are not just diabetic, they are forced by life circumstances, to combine it with high blood pressure.

    “From my experience, the symptoms come in different forms. In some cases it makes one vomit from time to time. Sometimes it puts you in a sort of temporary coma and you can also be dizzy and weak. At such times, the digestive system does not function well.”

    As in most cases among diabetics, Stella Monye disclosed to us that diabetes did not get to her in one day. “It was gradual. I did not just wake up one day and found out that I had diabetes. Yes, it was gradual. And twice I entered into coma in public places. My first experience was in Balogun market in Central Business District area of Lagos Island. It actually happened while I was shopping there. My second experience was at the Muritala Mohamed International Airport on my way out of the country.

    “In both cases, I just blacked out and did not come round for several hours. It was a taste of death, so to say. But even after those two attacks, ironically, I had no knowledge that I had become a diabetic. So, I did not understand why I had gone into a coma.”

    The Samba Queen, as she is also popularly known from her kind of music, was somewhat alarmed at her health condition. Upon approaching medical experts, she was diagnosed as a diabetic. It took her some time to digest the meaning and the implications.

    “Initially, I was not scared. But the doctors explained the implications and informed me that if not well managed, it could kill very fast. So that scared me!

    “I suddenly realised that I had a difficult health to battle. Confirmation in my case, also meant that treatment must be embarked upon. So I summoned courage and strictly embarked on the medication prescribed to me by my doctor. I also adhered to the foods prescribed from my doctor as part of the crisis management approach, a point which I had already got to, which is quite expensive when you consider the cost of the drugs and all other things put together.”

    As a sickness that is on going, the music star admits that she endeavours to manage it as best as she can. Though, “It hasn’t been easy because already my heart has been affected. That is what diabetes does. Most often, it affects your heart first and goes on to attack your kidneys.”

    One could not help but ask Stella Monye, how she has been able to cope with the sickness, her very challenging life as a celebrated music star, the long hours of rehearsals and attending shows and social events.

    “Well, I can say it has really slowed me down. In recent times, I have not been exuding the kind of energy I used to in years gone by. I am not much of a hyper-active person as I used to be. I have tilted more into a hypertensive person, though that is manageable too. But all that makes you lose weight because the sugar in your blood allows the calories to burn faster. Fat is also not good for a diabetic person, so I have shed a whole lot of weight.”

    When Stella Monye said “It is not easy living as a diabetic,” she indeed meant it. This is because she had an attack at another time when she was planning a mega show called the Whin Concert. As much as she worked on the possibility of hosting that show, it did not come to be. And that, according to her, was because among other things, she suffered another attack.

    “Yes, it cost me my work. It cost me my show. When I was planning the Whin Concert, my blood pressure went on the rise. I had to cancel the show.”

    Having lived successfully with diabetes for quite a while, the songster has some tips for people who may be diabetic too or just discovered that they are. “It has a lot to do with the foods that we eat. I would say that such people should eat and drink right. Eating and drinking right is very important. They should also drink a lot of water. Being diabetes also means that you have to find knowledge about the illness. You have to learn to do little researches about what diabetes is all about and how you can cope. There are newer discoveries from time to time and a diabetic is better placed if you keep in touch with growing knowledge.”

    Blunt, cheerful Stella Monye was also quick to admit that her lifestyle at some point, contributed to her being a diabetic today. “Yes, it’s true, my lifestyle contributed. In a lot of ways, I drank too much sugar and sugar coated substances, which included soft drinks and so on. My vegetable intake was rather too low and for several years, I was not drinking water but carbonated drinks.

    “I will rather advise that people live a healthier lifestyle, different from the type that I used to live. People should eat and drink to promote their health instead of destroying it. It is very simple to know what to avoid as an adult, and also you should know what the kids should take. Cut out all the sweets in their lives. You may just be saving them a healthy future.”

  • A diet to cure diabetes

    A crash diet that has been medically approved could help millions of Britons defeat diabetes.

    Men and women suffering from the disease were able to throw away their tablets after going on an extreme low-calorie diet for just two months.

    And 18 months later, some were still free of symptoms and said they were astonished at the dramatic improvement in their health.

    So far the diet has only been tested on a handful of patients. But a £2.4million trial involving 280 diabetics is about to get under way.

    These men and women will live on meal replacement shakes and soups. They will be allowed to take in only 800 calories a day – an amount many people will consume in their lunch.

    Type 2 diabetes, which normally develops in middle age, is the most common form of the condition with 3million sufferers in the UK alone.

    The disease occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin and the insulin that is made does not work properly.

    Newcastle University’s Professor Roy Taylor believes fat surrounding vital organs could be the key to understanding the condition.

    This fat is thought to clog up the pancreas and liver, cutting insulin production and stopping insulin from being used properly.

    But crash dieting plunges the body into starvation mode, the fat is burned off and the vital organs are then freed up.

    The original trial – involving 11 men and women – found consuming only weight loss shakes, salad and non-starchy vegetables for eight weeks could reverse diabetes.

    Fat levels in the pancreas returned to normal and the organ was able to pump out insulin without running into any problems.

    And three months after the end of the diet, seven out of the 11 participants were still diabetes-free.

    Even 18 months later, at least four of the patients found that they had no signs of diabetes.

    Gordon Parmley, 69, of Stocksfield in Northumberland, came off his diabetes tablets after taking part in the trial.

    He said: ‘It’s astonishing really that a diet – hard as it was – could change my health so drastically.’

    Disease: Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the condition with 3million sufferers in the UK alone

    And Professor Taylor said: ‘I believe that this study will lead to a quantum leap forward in our understanding of how best to manage type 2 diabetes.’

    The new, much larger trial, which will be co-led by Glasgow University researcher Mike Lean, will see if the success can be repeated in large numbers of people.

    It will look at how easy they find it to follow the diet – and see how long they remain healthy after they have started to eat normally again.

    Professor Lean said: ‘If our analysis shows this approach is both effective and cost-effective, our aim would be to produce a programme that could be implemented in the NHS as soon as possible.’

    And Dr Matthew Hobbs from Diabetes UK, which is funding the trial, said: ‘Type 2 diabetes will always be a serious condition.

    ‘But perhaps it won’t always be seen as a condition that people have to manage for the rest of their lives and one that worsens inevitably over time.

    ‘If we can do this safely, on a bigger scale as part of routine care, then a low-calorie liquid diet would be a real game changer in terms of reducing people’s risk of devastating health complications such as amputation and blindness.’

    However the research has no implications for people with type 1 diabetes, in which the pancreas is damaged by the body’s own immune system.

    And the charity has advised people not to embark on the diet themselves, strongly urging anyone determined to try it to speak to their GP first.

     

    •Source: Daily Mail

  • Screening canvassed for early detection of hypertension, diabetes, others

    How can Nigerians reduce risk of developing terminal diseases? It is by being moderate in whatever they do, especially their food intake say Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, wife of the governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola and chairman of Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Abiodun Mafe.

    Nigerians they said, should be wary of the food they eat so as not to endanger their health.

    This was contained in the messages to residents at the screening for diabetes, hypertension and cancers in the 57 local governments and LCDAs of the state.

    They listed healthy life styles such as regular exercises, moderate alcohol consumption, avoidance of smoking, eating and drinking in moderation and regular health screening as ways of reducing the risk of falling victim to killer diseases such as hypertension, diabetes as well as prostate, cervix and breast cancers.

    The event and the first round of integrated statewide wellness health week was held at Rauf Aregbesola Primary Health Centre, Mosan-Okunola, Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ipaja.

    According to the trio, embracing healthy life styles and paying proper attention to healthy living habits will not only reduce the risk of falling victim to these killer diseases but also help prevent it.

    The deputy governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Risikat Akiode, said it was in realisation of the need to prevent the killer diseases that the government initiated the wellness health week aimed for the screening of hypertension and diabetes as well as prostate, cervix and breast cancers.

    She said hypertension, diabetes and cancers are some of the non communicable diseases that have become prevalent and responsible for over 60 per cent of deaths in the world, adding that if the trend continues unchecked, the diseases are expected to account for 73 per cent of deaths and 60 per cent of the disease burden in the year 2020.

    ”It is against this background that our administration has come up with this initiative, which also aims to increase the tempo of sensitisation and awareness to maximally help prevent, reduce these diseases and improve the health status of Lagosians”, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said.

  • Screening canvassed for early detection of hypertension, diabetes, others

    How can Nigerians reduce risk of developing terminal diseases? It is by being moderate in whatever they do, especially their food intake say Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, wife of the governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola and chairman of Mosan Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Abiodun Mafe.

    Nigerians they said, should be wary of the food they eat so as not to endanger their health.

    This was contained in the messages to residents at the screening for diabetes, hypertension and cancers in the 57 local governments and LCDAs of the state.

    They listed healthy life styles such as regular exercises, moderate alcohol consumption, avoidance of smoking, eating and drinking in moderation and regular health screening as ways of reducing the risk of falling victim to killer diseases such as hypertension, diabetes as well as prostate, cervix and breast cancers.

    The event and the first round of integrated statewide wellness health week was held at Rauf Aregbesola Primary Health Centre, Mosan-Okunola, Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ipaja.

    According to the trio, embracing healthy life styles and paying proper attention to healthy living habits will not only reduce the risk of falling victim to these killer diseases but also help prevent it.

    The deputy governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Risikat Akiode, said it was in realisation of the need to prevent the killer diseases that the government initiated the wellness health week aimed for the screening of hypertension and diabetes as well as prostate, cervix and breast cancers.

    She said hypertension, diabetes and cancers are some of the non communicable diseases that have become prevalent and responsible for over 60 per cent of deaths in the world, adding that if the trend continues unchecked, the diseases are expected to account for 73 per cent of deaths and 60 per cent of the disease burden in the year 2020.

    ”It is against this background that our administration has come up with this initiative, which also aims to increase the tempo of sensitisation and awareness to maximally help prevent, reduce these diseases and improve the health status of Lagosians”, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said.

    Mrs Fashola called on residents to take advantage of the week-long integrated health screening present to get screened for hypertension, diabetes, breast, cervical and prostate cancers.

    She enjoined them to always visiting primary health centers for checks.

    ”Please be aware that these diseases do not present any noticeable symptoms until at the late stages, then it will be too expensive to treat and manage and could lead to loss of life of our bread winners,”she added.

    Mafe said the rate at which Nigerians die of non-communicable diseases calls for serious concern, calling on all residents to seize the opportunity of the free health screening to do a thorough medical check-up to know their health status.

    He said: “The event is not fun-fair but a programme aimed at bringing awareness to our people between about the killer diseases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) statistic shows that 22 percent of the Nigerian population is affected by high blood pressure, which is called a silent killer because it does not show sign or symptoms till it might be too late.”

    The council boss lamented that proliferation of fake blood pressure measuring devices and popular diet like some brand of noodles people consume had made Nigerians at risk of terminal diseases.

    Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina said the programme is put up due to inadequate knowledge and awareness of the symptoms, signs and effects of the diseases.

    “The goals of this programme are to detect early asymptomatic and undiagnosed clients with NCDs and to prevent complications through prompt, effective treatment and referral of diagnosed cases. Following the continuous and sustainable sensitisation and public enlightenment of the entire populace of these diseases, it is expected that the turnout would increase considerably,” she said.

    Adeshina explained that the screening for hypertension and diabetes will take place concurrently in the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs using screening sites selected in the LGAs and LCDAs adding that the screening for cancers of the breast, cervix and prostate will take place in one LGA per senatorial districts, that is; Alimosho, Lagos Island and